On Saturday morning April 25, organizers of the Shortline Ramp Festival welcomed visitors to the event in Reader.

Each year since its inception the festival has been held at the Shortline School.

As always a variety of food vendors, along with live entertainment were set up in the school’s parking lot. Inside the main auditorium of Shortline School were two dozen vendors and craft persons.

Most all were from the local area. Guests could purchase handmade jewelry, baked goods, sport memorabilia, fashion hand nails, Girl Scout Cookies along with many other items.

In the school’s gymnasium, inflatable amusement slides, bouncy houses, and game areas were there for the children’s fun and amusement.

For those who felt the need to try their hand at axe throwing, a trailer with a target set up inside provided a safe way to try your hand at the mountain man sport.

There were children’s game areas, along with prizes and face painting booths.

For those with adventurous spirits, you could partake of a variety of foods and pizzas made with ramps. The Pine Grove VFD Co-op prepared a meal featuring the ramps of the day. Poor Daddy’s Wood Fired Pizza was a hit with those gathered, especially the vegetable, ramp covered pizza.

MPLX sponsored a LEGO ramp race challenge. And the big event of the day was the annual ramp eating contest, won by Robert Linger. He put away twenty freshly dug ramps in the shortest time. By the end of the contest, all the contestants’ faces showed they were good, but glad it was over. Breath mints were the second-place prize for the contestants, and their families.

A few of the vendors were the Bee’s Knees, they offered homemade cookies and desserts to the guests. Debbie Moore laid out a wide selection of Mary Kay products to help visiting ladies become even more beautiful for their special other. Children’s book author Karen Ullom talked with children about her successful books and how to become an author themselves. Kathy Compton offered to the lady’s a large selection of finger nails to fashion up any hand.

Ms. Tina Rush was this year’s Festival Grand Marshal. Talan Chambers and Doug Jones provided music during the event to entertain the hundreds of guests.

The 10th Annual Shortline Ramp Festival was possible by the sponsorship of MPLX, TW, William’s, Expand and the Wetzel County Commission.